March 28, 2017 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Notice of the time and place of the Lincoln Board of Education meeting was e-mailed to an extensive list of local and regional news media.  A mailing list is maintained at the Lincoln Public Schools District Office.  A public notice was published in the LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR.

Denise Cotton, chair of the music department at Lincoln Southwest High School, has been named the Outstanding Music Educator for the year 2016-17 by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Explanation

Denise Cotton’s passion for music is evident in any class or performance. She has inspired thousands of students to grow personally through their music. She not only has an impact on her students at Southwest High School, but many students throughout Lincoln Public Schools, through the creation of the high school music theory curriculum. Her reach goes beyond that as a leader in the Nebraska all-state high school choir. Cotton was nominated for this national award by her peers in the state, for her ability to inspire people through music education.

Her principal, Mike Gillotti, said:

“Denise has been the driving force behind the exceptional music education program that we have here at Southwest. Her passion is evident to anyone who spends time in her classroom. She has not only dedicated her career to pushing students to perform at a level beyond what many of them ever thought possible, but she has been equally as dedicated to cultivating a passion for music as an art and an appreciation for the many roles it can play in the lives of each of her students.”

Lance Nielsen, supervisor of Music at LPS, says:

“Denise Cotton is a passionate music teacher who works tirelessly to provide the best vocal music experiences for all students. Under her leadership, the students in the Southwest Vocal Department have been recognized by numerous performances at state, regional and national music conferences and honor choirs. She is an advocate for students, and she loves to share her joy of singing with them.”

Cotton works primarily with choirs at Southwest, produces many performances, helps with the school’s show choirs, and oversees the annual school musical, which draws in music and theater fans from across Lincoln and beyond. Cotton has also taught band and orchestra.

Lance Nielsen, supervisor of music curriculum, has been inducted into the Nebraska Music Educators Hall of Fame.

Background

Lance Nielsen meets all the qualifications to be a member of the Nebraska Music Educators Association Hall of Fame: He is a great advocate for music education in our schools, and he is a great mentor for budding and talented musicians and teachers. He has taught music at various levels, has contributed inside and outside of LPS, has devoted his career to the advancement of music education and has been a leader for various local and national groups.

Nielsen provides quality, challenging, applicable professional development and works to make Professional Learning Communities meaningful and productive.  He couples mentors with young teachers to help them be successful.  He does whatever he can to provide needed materials to teachers and works with the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools to help teachers find additional resources for their classrooms when needed. He has streamlined marching band and solo/ensemble contests, and he is proactive in procuring excellent adjudicators for these events to provide meaningful feedback for students and teachers on their performances.

Del Whitman, music teacher at Lux Middle School and Lincoln East High School, had this to say about Nielsen:

“Lance is the rare combination of a visionary and a mover. He sees possibilities and then rolls up his sleeves to get it done, inviting others to join the work, and accomplishing it with utmost efficiency. Moreover, Lance works and networks in a kind hearted, loyal, beautiful manner. Lance is a rare gem in Lincoln education.”

Judith Bush, Wysong Elementary School music teacher, says of Nielsen:

“His impact on LPS music education has been profound. He has worked with staff to create mission and purpose statements and a K-12 curriculum that aligns with the Nebraska state standards for music education (which he also helped to write).  He has found a way to observe every music teacher in the school district, attends as many performances in as many schools as he can during the year, and is an advocate for teachers and music education in general.  He is more than willing to speak to anyone about the benefits of music education for students and will conduct/collect research to back it up. If there is something that needs to be done for the good of students, Lance will not just tell us what to do, he will help us in any way because he is passionate about music education for all students.”  

Meanwhile, Nielsen is still remembered for his various demonstrations of instruments, establishing new classes and creating a new honor society for music students at Lincoln East High School.

In keeping with Board Policy 8420:

• Persons speaking during Public Comment will be called forward individually by the Board Chair to the location identified for such purpose.
• A time limit of five minutes will be allotted for any speaker.  At the discretion of the chair, the speaker may be allotted additional time.  Board members may share, address or consider comments from the public during public comment, at the end of public comment or when related business is on the agenda.
• Each individual speaking to the Board will be required to identify himself or herself prior to giving public comment.  A "Record of Appearance" card is provided for this purpose.
• Persons wishing to appear will be heard in the order in which the Chair of the meeting determines appropriate.
• In cases where more than one person wishes to speak on the same topic, their presentations to the Board may, at the discretion of the chair, be grouped together by topic.
• If the number of people wishing to speak under the public participation portions of the agenda is large, the chair may rule that a public hearing be scheduled or the discussion be limited on the issue in question.
• Persons speaking to the Board during public comment may hand out printed materials to the Board but may not use any other form of media.
• If at any time persons appearing before the Board exceed the time limitations or become abusive in language or behavior, the Chair may declare that person out of order and to refuse permission to continue to address the Board, require a change in behavior and may require the person or persons to leave the premises of the Board meeting. 

The Human Resources Division also includes the Office of Risk Management.  As such, in addition to the Lincoln Board of Education approving all contractual agreements with employees, all employee benefit issues, all personnel actions, and all other matters within the scope of the Human Resources Division, as part of the Human Resources Matters agenda; the Lincoln Board of Education also must approve the settlement of Workers’ Compensation claims, take action on tort claims filed against the district, and take action on all other matters within the scope of the Office of Risk Management.

Explanation

This report includes routine Human Resources changes:

   a.  Administrator Certificated Employees:

             Elections – 9

             Separations – 2

   b.  Certificated Employees:

             Elections –9

             Changes of Status – 2

             Leaves of Absence – 55

             Separations – 52            

   c,  Substitute Certificated Employees:

             Elections – 34

             Separations – 38

   d,  Classified Employees:

             Elections – 68

             Changes of Status – 6

             Leaves of Absence – 2

             Separations – 37

   e.  Other:

             Employment of Family Member – 2

   f.   Approval of recommended agreement with Gallup Inc. to subscribe to TeacherInsight, PrincipalInsight and

        SupportInsight.

Proposal

That the Board approve the Human Resources items presented in the attachment(s).*

*The information in the attachment(s) may be protected by privacy legislation until the Board of Education takes action on the staff recommendations.  Therefore, this attachment(s) is not included in agenda materials provided the public and the news media.  Any information in the attachment(s) that is not protected by privacy legislation, however, is available for public inspection from the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources upon request.

That the Board is approving the Human Resources items attached with the information as presented or as on file with official district records and documents relating to each such item, or in such other form as may be approved by the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, or the Associate Superintendent’s designee, and that the Board hereby authorizes the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, or the Associate Superintendent’s designee, to transact and complete each such item approved hereby, and to sign, execute, and deliver necessary documents or contracts, and to take or cause to be taken any and all other action as may be necessary to complete each such item of transaction as contemplated, for and on behalf of this school district.

Explanation

The items included in routine business for this meeting are:

a. REGULAR CLAIMS – Claims for the period ending March 28, 2017, were previously provided.

Federal Tax ACH Deposit of $5,880,954.74.

State Tax ACH Deposit of $789,539.48.

Procurement Card ACH Transfer of $213,802.55.

Office Depot ACH Transfer of $30,133.11.

Vendor ACH Transfer of $173,728.93.

b. PAYROLL FOR RATIFICATION – Payroll for the periods ending February 15, 2017, February 17, 2017, March 7, 2017, and March 15, 2017, in the amount of $15,371,227.41.

c. GIFTS – Approval for the gifts listed on the attached gift report.

d. BIDS/CONTRACTS/OTHER ROUTINE BUSINESS – Bids/contracts/other routine business will be presented for approval for the purchase of vehicles; the purchase of furniture for Moore Middle School; the purchase of a revised reading program; engineering services for humidity studies; the purchase of math curriculum for eighth grade students; the purchase of health sciences textbooks; the acquirement of replacement advertising signs; the purchase of summer school math materials; labor, materials, and equipment for the Southeast High School drainage project; the purchase of a tractor with loader; the purchase of equipment for new vehicles; software subscriptions; district access fee for science databases; digital encyclopedia subscriptions; an agreement for group travel; library media materials for Moore Middle School; items listed for auction; and any other bids/contracts/routine business as presented.

On February 14, 2017, the Board adopted a resolution to accept option students for the 2017-18 school year.  Applications have been received from students requesting that they be accepted as an option students for the 2017-18 school year.  Staff recommends that the students referred to in this agenda item be accepted for enrollment as they are in compliance with the Board resolution of February 14, 2017.      

Explanation
Staff examined the application of the students included in this proposal.  The students meet one of the criteria set forth by the Board in its resolution of February 14, 2017.  Staff recommends approval of these applications.      

Proposal  
That the Board adopt the following resolution:  

WHEREAS, the students who have been assigned student numbers 246158, 411343, 418673, 418069, 418765, 418766, 289135 an 299016 (for purposes of confidentiality, assigned numbers are being used) meet one or more of the criteria of the Board resolution of February 14, 2017, with regard to such option students;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the aforementioned students be accepted as option students on the condition and with the express understanding that all programs, all classes and all buildings of assignment, except as otherwise required by law, shall at all times and from time to time during attendance at Lincoln Public Schools be determined solely by Lincoln Public Schools.

Annually, an evaluation of the Superintendent is prepared by the Board along with leadership goals/job targets. 

Explanation

The Board and Superintendent have worked to modify the instrument and procedure to better facilitate the process and to conform to current practice.

Proposal

That the Board discuss the revised Superintendent Evaluation Instrument and procedures.

Periodically, policies are reviewed and updated.  The Board identified the policies applying to the superintendent’s evaluation in need of review.

Explanation

Policies 8350, 2112, and 2113 apply to the superintendent’s evaluation and have been updated to reflect more effective practices. 

Proposal

The Board discuss policies 8350, 2112, and 2113.

Sealed proposals were requested from interested vendors for the Belmont Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) construction project.  Project will consist of Indoor Air Quality Improvements and be multiple phased.

Explanation

It is recommended that award be made to the lowest responsible vendor:

Sampson Construction Co., Inc. (Lincoln, Nebraska)              $7,575,000.00

Bid results,

 Sampson Construction Co., Inc. (Lincoln, Nebraska)                    $7,575,000.00

 Rogge General Contractors, Inc. (Lincoln, Nebraska)                   $8,480,000.00

A complete tabulation is available in the Purchasing Office.

This will be an expenditure of $7,575,000.00 from the Bond Fund.

Lincoln Public Schools reviews policies on an on-going basis and updates policies to ensure that they accurately reflect the ever-changing work of the district.

Explanation

 The revision of Policy 1112 sets guidelines for style of language that appears in district media to highlight partnerships with commercial entities and the locations of such messages.

Proposal

That the Board approve Policy 1112.

March 29, Zoo Expansion Reveal Day, Lincoln Children's Zoo, 9:30 am

April 5, Chamber Coffee, Chamber Office, 8:00 am

April 6, Native American Student Recognition, Firefighter's Hall, 6:00 pm

April 11, Board Meeting, LPSDO, 6:00 pm

In keeping with Board Policy 8420:

• Persons speaking during Public Comment will be called forward individually by the Board Chair to the location identified for such purpose.
• A time limit of five minutes will be allotted for any speaker.  At the discretion of the chair, the speaker may be allotted additional time.  Board members may share, address or consider comments from the public during public comment, at the end of public comment or when related business is on the agenda.
• Each individual speaking to the Board will be required to identify himself or herself prior to giving public comment.  A "Record of Appearance" card is provided for this purpose.
• Persons wishing to appear will be heard in the order in which the Chair of the meeting determines appropriate.
• In cases where more than one person wishes to speak on the same topic, their presentations to the Board may, at the discretion of the chair, be grouped together by topic.
• If the number of people wishing to speak under the public participation portions of the agenda is large, the chair may rule that a public hearing be scheduled or the discussion be limited on the issue in question.
• Persons speaking to the Board during public comment may hand out printed materials to the Board but may not use any other form of media.
• If at any time persons appearing before the Board exceed the time limitations or become abusive in language or behavior, the Chair may declare that person out of order and to refuse permission to continue to address the Board, require a change in behavior and may require the person or persons to leave the premises of the Board meeting. 

Explanation
At this point, it is appropriate for the Board to meet in closed session for one of the stated matters and/or any other permissible closed session matters in compliance with the law.